Victory!! The Thompson Divide is Protected Until 2044!!
For many people, our efforts to protect the Thompson Divide are how they first heard of Wilderness Workshop – and we like to think we’ve kept them engaged as public lands supporters ever since!
In April of 2024, the Divide was awarded an Administrative Withdrawal, which means future oil and gas leasing and mining will be banned for decades to come. We couldn’t be more excited. Read our press release for more.
The Divide comprises roughly 250,000 acres of public land between the Roaring Fork and North Fork Valleys; it stretches south from Glenwood Springs through the Sunlight Ski Resort and runs west from Carbondale through Coal Basin including the Thompson and Divide Creek Watersheds. The wild forests of the Divide contain mid-elevation, high-value habitat and migration corridors for the threatened lynx, as well as moose, elk, deer, bear, and mountain lions, linking wildlands near Grand Junction to the main stem of the Rockies in the Elk Mountains.
The Divide is home to one of the largest aspen stands in Colorado, a massive complex of Roadless Areas, critical grazing allotments to local ranching operations and some of the most sought-after hunting units in the West.
Want to learn more about our work to protect the Thompson Divide? Reach out to Campaign Manager Michael Gorman to learn more: (michael@wildernessworkshop.org).
A Commemorative Video
After the Administrative Withdrawal was announced, we commissioned a video on the beloved landscape, to honor the place and the people that helped protect it. The video is titled, “A Great Wild Place: The Thompson Divide and the Community that Stood Up for It.”
Mt Sopris above the Thompson Creek Valley. Photo courtesy Jon Mullen/Ecostock.
Background
Despite its ecological, community, and agricultural values, in the 2000’s the Bush Administration leased over 100,000 acres of lands in the Divide – many of which were issued illegally and without proper environmental review. Since then, WW, the Thompson Divide Coalition and a host of elected officials, ranchers, and community members have been working to protect this landscape.
Thanks to the incredible support of people from all walks of life we’ve made significant progress towards protecting the Divide (see timeline below) and we continue to work towards our community’s ultimate goal of permanent legislative protection and eliminating all oil and gas leases.
What’s the latest on the Divide?
In 2024, President Biden and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland officially removed 225,000 acres of the Thompson Divide from all future oil and gas leasing, as well as mining, for 20 years! While the proposed mineral withdrawal secures important short term protections for the Thompson Divide, the best way for us to permanently protect the Thompson Divide is by passing the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy (CORE) Act, which would forever prohibit new oil and gas leasing in this spectacular landscape.
The CORE Act’s champions – Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and Representative Joe Neguse – continue to work towards passage of the CORE Act, which has passed the House of Representatives five times and was recently reintroduced in the House and had a hearing in the Senate 2024.
Thompson Creek Valley and West Elk Mountains. Photo courtesy Jon Mullen/Ecostock.
Thompson Divide Headlines
“How Colorado Cowboys and Conservationists Joined Forces to Stop Drilling,” New York Times, 9/18/24
“Haaland, Bennet celebrate protections on Thompson Divide with supporters,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, 7/2/24
“Thompson Divide gets 20-year protection from new oil and gas leasing,” Aspen Public Radio, 4/26/24
“Meetings planned, comments sought on Thompson Divide proposal,” Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, May 5, 2023
“Years of hard work culminating in cancellation of the East Willow Leases; 20 years of protection in the works for the Thompson Divide,” Wilderness Workshop 2022 Annual Report
“Tens of Thousands Urge Biden Administration to Protect the Thompson Divide,” Wilderness Workshop, Jan. 2023
“Unified more than ever for Thompson Divide,” Aspen Times, Dec. 15, 2022
“Tapping into Thompson — not worth it, says rancher who’s been part of preservation effort since the get-go,” Glenwood Springs Post Independent, Dec. 15, 2022
Why is the Divide special?
The Thompson Divide provides outstanding opportunities for hiking, hunting, fishing, skiing, and a myriad of recreation activities. Grazed by ranchers for more than a century, the Divide is one of the last bastions of traditional ranching culture in western Colorado and provides summer range to some of the oldest ranching operations in the area. Livestock operations rely on federal grazing allotments in the Divide, preserving thousands of acres of increasingly scarce winter range on private valley bottom lands for deer and elk.
In addition to hunting units that generate over 20,000 big-game licenses each year, the Divide provides important recreation opportunities for climbers, bikers, equestrians, and hikers. It supports more than 300 jobs and generates more than $30 million each year in economic benefits to the local economy.
Highlights from Our Thompson Divide Efforts
Early 2000s – About 70 oil and gas leases are issued throughout the Divide and dozens more in neighboring roadless areas. Local governments raise claims about their legality.
2009 – The Thompson Divide Coalition (TDC) – comprised of cowboys and conservationists is formed to eliminate the threat of oil and gas development and protect this special place.
2013 – Senator Michael Bennet introduced the Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act. It is now part of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act.
2015 – Responding to our dedicated advocacy and overwhelming community support, the White River National Forest closed tens of thousands of acres in the Divide to new leasing through its Oil and Gas Leasing Plan.
2016 – As a result of our legal research, advocacy, and extensive community organizing the BLM canceled dozens of leases across tens of thousands of acres that were issued illegally within the Divide.
2019 – CORE Act introduced; it has since passed the House of Representatives 5 times and had hearings in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in 2022 and 2023.
Oct. 2022 – President Biden initiates the process to enact an Administrative Mineral Withdrawal for the Thompson Divide.
Jan. 2023 – The BLM Comment Period closes; over 65,000 people submitted supportive comments.
Jan – March, 2024 – In response to overwhelming community support, the USFS and BLM are conducting a NEPA analysis for the proposed withdrawal. Our communities remain united for Thompson Divide and continue to voice support throughout the process.
April. 2024 – Goal achieved! The Thompson Divide Administrative Withdrawal is finalized, giving this land 20 years of protections from oil and gas leasing and mining. This gives Congress time to pass legislation permanently protecting the Divide.
